The association of human pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica with free-living protozoa: Ecological relevance and impact on bacterial phenotypic characteristics.

Yersinia enterocolitica associates with free-living protozoa, enhancing bacterial survival in vitro. This project aims at (i) unraveling the ecological relevance of this observation; (ii) further characterizing the Y. enterocolitica-protozoa interactions; and (iii) describing the impact of protozoan presence on the bacteria's phenotypic characteristics, like virulence properties and disinfection resistance profiles.